Los Angeles

There’s no denying it: the Christmas season has started. So Cal kids have already been exposed to snow, ice skating and an average of 2.7 Santa Clauses*, so we at Mommy Poppins suggest you go with the flow and embrace the season of giving. And in that spirit, we offer you our first giveaway, our gift to you, in this holiday season.

Here are somequestions to answer to determine if you should take the time to read this article:
1. Do you spend more than two minutes a day looking for ANYTHING?
2. Does accessing any daily needed item require you to move something else to reach it?
3. Do you have visions of night gnomes merrily tidying while you sleep and magically making the stress inducing piles disappear?

Bring It On: The Musical has kicked off its national tour at the Ahmanson Theatre, and one lucky family in the Mommy Poppins community gets to see the show for free! Read on to find out how to score four free tickets to the December 8th performance!

Well, folks, we made it through. Our tricks were treated; our houses were haunted; our buckets were filled with more candy than we’ll ever be able to eat. Now it’s time to sit back, take a breath, and relax, before the onslaught of turkeys, trees, and jolly old elves begins. (Outdoor ice skating has begun already!)

In the spirit of restoration, we all get an extra hour of sleep this weekend. It’s the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2011, so in the wee hours of November 6 the clock “falls back” an hour. Make sure to reset your clocks (and it’s a good time to check the batteries in your smoke alarm, as well).

Venice del Play Beach Camp (which, in spite of the name, meets on the beach in Santa Monica) is always a great option for school holidays. The yoga, boogie board, and sand castle experts are out there in the California sunshine on Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and any other time that school is closed - winter, spring, summer, or fall. All you have to do is call.

Guaranteeing a 5-to-1 ratio of adults to children is important when there's water involved, which explains why the camp charges $90 for a full day of fun. However, Venice del Play is offering Mommy Poppins readers a $15 discount for a limited time! Grab this deal for Veterans Day Capoiera Camp and pay only $75.

What’s that seismic rumbling? The vibration of 10 million pumpkins rolling down the 405? No, (well maybe, but that’s not what we’re talking about here). What you’re feeling is the pretend earthquake of the Great American Shakeout, a drill being held Thursday to help kids learn to drop, cover, and hold in the event of a genuine temblor. At 10:20AM schools, businesses, and community groups throughout the Southland are practicing what to do when the Big One (or a medium one) strikes.

October? Seriously? If you ever doubt how lucky we are to live in Southern California, all you have to do is take a look outside. It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, and we have all the activities for you to fill it with.

What self-respecting kid wouldn’t want to see a movie called Flying Monsters in 3-D?

The California Science Center reminds us once again how lucky we are to have the California Science Center, with the arrival of David Attenborough’s IMAXsterpiece, Flying Monsters. It was almost too easy answering my son’s “What are we doing today?” with the hero-making reply, “We’re going to see a 3-D movie called Flying Monsters.” I confess, though, I harbored a small doubt; what if he felt conned when he discovered that this impressive sounding title was in fact a cover for a documentary film narrated by some old English guy?

It’s one for the record books… make that two! This week Southern Californians have the chance to participate in two different world record attempts. First up: Read for the Record. The Santa Monica Public Library joins with book lovers around the world in an attempt to create the largest shared reading experience. This year’s book is Llama Llama Red Pajama, and it’s a real page turner, filled with lots of llama drama.